should i go for the RN or BSN? What is the difference? HELP!?

Question

i am really confused. I am a nursing student who will have completed my LVN/LPN associates in nursing and liberal arts in may of 2008. But I was planning on going on to get my RN, but then I am hearing about a BSN, so here is my question. SHould I bypass the RN and go straight for a BSN? Does a BSN rate the same as a RN, or would i outrank a RN. I really dont want to be a paper pusher at this point in my life, i want to work the floor. I know a lot of places are only wanting RNs. I am realy confused on what to do! Help.

Oh and I can either go for a 8 month bridge RN program or go online to get my BSN from pheonix; i dont know how long that takes!

Answer 1

You are an RN regardless. With the BSN it's 4 years, for the Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) it's about 8mo-1.5 years if you go into an LPN-RN bridge program.

Both programs make you eligible for the NCLEX-RN. The only difference between the two degrees is that with the BSN you get more liberal arts / general education courses, and for the nursing courses you also get Public Health, Nursing Research, Nursing Leadership and some extra theory courses. You are also eligible to be certified as a Public Health Nurse, an ADN RN is not.

The difference in pay for a staff nurse with a BSN is negligible- my hospital pays only $1 per hour more for BSN RNs. In the long run, it is always better to hold the higher degree though. Makes it easier when you want to transition into a supervisory or administrative position. It's not impossible to get those jobs with just the ADN, but like with any career, the more education, the better off you are.

If I were you, I'd go for the LPN - RN bridge program. Take your general education courses that are required for graduation early on so that once you start the nursing core you will only have to focus on those courses - because they are challenging, and very unlike the LPN program.

Don't go through Phoenix - they are a for-profit school that WAY overcharges for the crappy education they provide. Find local community colleges that offer the bridge program, and then later on after you have your RN you can complete your BSN online through a local state university - and tuition would be about half the cost of Phoenix.

Good luck!

Answer 2

All RNs are persons who have passed the NCLEX and are registered by their respective states (please note, you can pass the boards and still not meet the requirtements of your state to be an RN). There are no programs which can give you an RN. That you have to earn.

There are three education programs currently available in the US for persons seeking to sit for the NCLEX-RN boards.

Diploma Programs - this was the oldest and traditional three year program used by hospitals, before colleges and universities started educating nurses. A Diploma in Nursing is provided by the Hospital.

Associates - often called a 2 year program, most actually find themselves taking 3 or more years as there are prerequisites and these are usually now required before acceptance to the program is granted. There is then a 2 year program resulting in an associates degree usually an ADN or ASN.

Bachelors Degree in Nursing - this is the 4 year university option. Often considered by nursing educators to give the most rounded nursing education as it allows time for nursing theory, leadership, community and public health courses and some electives missed by many ADN programs. Additionally, the basics of the bachelors degree give a good foundaton for management.

All these programs have been found to produce persons able to pass the NCLEX-RN and function on a nursing unit. This is what is needed from a nursing program.

Starting RNs generally do the same job functions, but there is usually a differential for the BSN degree. While this may not be significant to some at $1 to $1.50 per hour. It can be a difference of over $3,000 per year working a 40 hour week.

Your long term goals are a factor in what education programs you select. Most hospitals and almost all major hospital corporations and groups have BSN preferred or required on their lowest supervisory job descriptions. MSNs are required by many for higher level supervision and almost all education positions.

Advanced Practice Nursing (anesthesia, Nurse Practitioner, midwifery, and clinical nurse specialist) requires a masters degree. Many research and education positions require some form of doctoral degree.

My best advice to you, is to look into the education programs available in your area. Many ADN and BSN programs have either waiting list or high rejection rates. More importantly (in my opinion) look at the success rate of graduates from your area programs on the NCLEX examinations. If a school consistently has a higher number of failures, pick a different school.

If possible get your BSN, so your options are not limited, but if you can get into the ADN program for a bridge program easily, become an RN, then let the hospital pay tuition reimbursement for you to get your BSN on an RN to BSN or RN to MSN program.

I do not recommend an online degree program for your basic nursing program. This would leave too much for you to learn on your own. Also any value in earning the BSN would be negated when they saw the school's name on the resume.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

The only thing a BSN will get you is the ability to work in a supervisory role after you've got a few years of nursing experience. I'd become an RN, and go to work somewhere that will pay back a portion of the debt you owe for your schooling so far. Then when you've got 2-3 years of experience, you can decide whether or not you'd enjoy being a supervisor, and go for your BSN or even beyond that.

Just a note, right out of school with little/no experience, having a BSN won't get you any more money than just being an RN.

Best of luck with your decision, and congratulations on your upcoming graduation. :)

Answer 4

If you want to work the floor and not paper-push, go for the RN. A BSN has a four year degree and can be eligible for some management positions that an RN wouldn't be, but that doesn't sound like what you want to do anyway.

If you change your mind later, you can always still go for the BSN, and most of your credits would count toward it.

If when you say phoenix you are talking about the University of Phoenix, I wouldn't go that way. If you decide to go for a BSN go to a college in your area. Nursing has way too much hands-on training to do a good job of it just online.

Answer 5

I agree with the first poster.

RNs must have a BSN. I have never heard of someone being able to work as an RN without a degree.

Don't worry about being a pen pusher, you can work in any area you want to being an RN (again, must first obtain the BSN to obtain this).

Before I get everyone riled up- this is a new development. Older RN's will not have a BSN because of training systems in hospitals etc. Now they are phasing it in that all RN's must have a degree.

Don't go to pheonix online- nursing is way too hands on to do online. I'd be scared if my nurse had never had any hands on experience and merely read instructions out of a book.

Answer 6

They are the same thing....RN=Registered Nurse BSN=Bachelor of Science in Nursing(the degree)

Answer 7

Do not do your nursing degree online! It will not be worth anything.